When I tell people that I am from Albuquerque, they usually tell me that’s where Breaking Bad is filmed.

Yes, I reply. Yes, it is.

Breaking Bad has given me a way to explain Albuquerque without saying a word. It’s a place where we struggle with drug epidemics, extreme drought, hunger, drunk driving, gun violence (New Mexico’s gun-death rate is 40% higher than the national average), and a corrupt police force. Nearly 20% of the population lives below the poverty line, and the crime rate is 53% higher than the national average. Albuquerque is a city plagued by mediocrity — a drying river, a losing football team (the University of New Mexico Lobos), a dearth of ambition. But it also gets under your skin and into your blood, like a drug you won’t forget and can’t explain. It will always be my home, even if I am far away.

At the core of Breaking Bad is family. It is what impels the show’s lead character, the cancer-stricken Walter White, to parlay his knowledge of chemistry into meth production. He wants to ensure the well-being of his wife and children after his death. No sin too great, no hell too deep. This faithfulness to family is the lifeblood of Albuquerque. Everything that lives in the desert has had to fight to stay alive, and survival requires banding together.

Everyone seems to know everyone here. Unlike California or the East Coast, with their large cities, New Mexico has only Albuquerque, population 552,000. It’s isolated. Reaching any city of similar size means at least four hours of highway driving. There are two independent natural food stores in the city, so if you regularly shop there, you’ll meet everybody in that demographic. Same goes for those who favor honky-tonks or feed stores.

Because this city is small, because it has an on-again, off-again relationship with the law — a legacy of its Wild West days, when New Mexico was the home of Billy the Kid — you encounter people from all walks of life who have made a lot of risky decisions. When I went away to college, I didn’t experience much new in the way of vice. Back home, sex, alcohol and weed began in middle school. By freshman year of high school, coke at parties was commonplace. When the club-music craze took over, the drugs Ecstasy and Molly were widespread. Off and on, people got into heroin. You didn’t have to go looking for this stuff. It just sort of showed up in front of you on a Wednesday morning, and you had to make the call, right then and there.

I often cited my status as a competitive runner as a reason to not partake in one drug or another. But the rebuttal was always, “What? You think you are that good? Look at Michael Phelps. He smokes weed, and you are never going to be that good, so why take yourself so seriously?”

That attitude — one embodied in the Breaking Bad character of Jesse Pinkman (Walter White’s troubled former student and business partner) and his malingering friends — is common. Who are you to think that you can really do something in this world? At the end of the day, all you have — and all you really need — are your friends and family and a little cash for some Bud Light, so why try to reach for anything else? In a place like Boston or Chicago, there is a tangible and prominent upper echelon to which to aspire. Not so in Albuquerque.

You can get away with a lot in this city. In high school, it was standard to go to a party, get wasted, have some quesadillas to “sober up,” and then rush home in a car to make curfew. Most people never got caught. We were smart kids, but we still did this sort of thing. Why? Because we could.

Without authorities to provide order, you’re left to rely on your internal sense of right and wrong. And when that sense goes awry, you can go to astonishing extremes that have a surprisingly long run, like Walter White, the teacher turned meth lord.

To be best known for your worst flaws is never ideal, but Albuquerque has embraced Breaking Bad as a redeemer. Businesses proudly display “Breaking Bad Filmed Here!” signs and offer tours to see the houses and labs used during filming. That’s how hungry we are for acknowledgement. Albuquerque is breaking. It always has been, and likely always will be. But that’s what I like about it. It makes everything whole — everything unbroken — seem more precious.

Madeleine Carey is a senior at Tufts University studying biology. She was raised in Albuquerque’s South Valley and wrote this for Zócalo Public Square. The views expressed are solely her own.

As a visitor in Albuqurque New Mexico traveling from Dallas to Los Angeles I was mugged at a gas station off of HWY 40 and Coors Blvd! (July 2014) Never in my life had I been to ABQ, I don't blame everybody in ABQ but this was the first and last time I will ever stop in ABQ for ANY REASON WHATSOEVER. After some research though, I found out the gas station where I was at is in the area called "The War zone" ??? Can some one enlighten me? Anyways, how is a traveler supposed to know! you would think a gas station in the city would atleast be safe enough to pump!

@bringamac Hello, I am originally from Albuquerque but now reside in New York City. I am sorry to hear about your experience. The area which you stopped to put gas is actually on the West Side of town. Coors and I-40. That is a section of NW Albuquerque, The war zone is Southeast Albuquerque. In any instance, no one should have to endure such crucial and heartless events no matter what city or what part of city. I can tell you that being from Albuquerque, I am not moved by anyone here in New York that tries to be intimidating. I grew up in the south valley and I can tell you that fighting off knife wielding or gun totting people was commonplace. I know it sounds crazy but its true. A lot of people pack for their protection in New Mexico. Its always been big on guns since the wild west days. That particular area you stopped at has a lot of cheap hotels in the immediate vicinity. These places attract dope heads, drug pushers and truck stop prostitutes. My immediate guess is someone ran out of dope and was feenin for more and headed to the station to specifically target a traveler to get another hit or drug rush. Most these guys know not to target locals because they will most likely encounter a fight. Most locals will fight back or even shoot the attacker on sight. I'm sorry about your experience. I hope you bring in the New Year with much more positive vibes and create better memories. Thanks,

I worked for UNM Hospitals Outpatient Clinics for two years. I was an Advanced Practice Provider and managed a panel of 1200 patients as well as all of the clinics walk-ins or same day visits and all of the new patients. The rates of drug addiction, drug abuse and drug diversion were phenomenal. I worked diligently to ensure safe and effective medical practice but the management at UNM Hospitals works to coerce and threaten Doctors and Advance Practice Providers who won't write prescriptions for narcotics, benzos and stimulants. I was threatened with termination for performing medical record checks (requiring voluntary records from person last treating), performing evaluations (physical exams, x/rays, MRIs), orthopedic consults, and any change/taper of medications. I came to the conclusion that the clinic manager at northeast heights(am), the advance practice supervisors (cd/kk) and the patient advocate (wb) were colluding to enable drug diversion, drug addiction and drug abuse. I long suspected there were financial motives behind the threats to practitioners who practice medicine safely and effectively as trained in medical school.

I grew up in Albuquerque, and moved to the San Fernando Valley area of Los Angeles over 33 years ago. Best move I've ever made, and the single best thing I've ever done for myself. Plus I've been Way more successful here than I ever would have if I'd stayed. I absolutely Love it here and have many, many wonderful, and inspiring friends... I don't miss Albuquerque a single bit, except for the friends I had growing up. Now it's just a place to visit, very briefly, and you'd better be very careful while you are there. When I have visited over the years, almost every time, I've witnessed some sort of violence, and was an unsuspecting victim once. Watch out for the night clubs. On visits, I Never go to them like I did growing up. Too many fights ensue. One thing I will admit that is positive, there are some great Mexican food restaurants. None the less, I sure as Hell would Never, Ever, move back to live ! No Way. They can have it...

@H.D. This is too funny...I have a friend who grew up in Sun Valley. He mentions all the gang bangers, drugs and crime he was exposed to. He tells the story of being at a gas station and living through a driveby shooting. So I think its pretty funny that you paint San Fer as some kind of Oasis in SoCal. The Valley has quite the rep in Southern California: The valley girls on the one side, the latino gangbangers on the other....

@brucethedruid @H.D. Bruce, these are my own personal experiences and the choices I've made, and I'm not painting an “Oasis” of the S.F. Valley… Believe me...

Any big city, anywhere, all have their problems. I visited Albuq. back in August recently, and everyday I was there, I saw the police and the people they had pulled over, in handcuffs. Everyday... Once I saw people sitting on the ground handcuffed, while their pickup truck and the enclosed trailer they were pulling, with everything in them, unloaded with items strewn all over the place. God knows what the cops were looking for...

Barely 2 hours later, I saw 4 latino gangbangers with shaved heads, their arms and necks covered in tattoos, 2 of them with tattoos on their faces, all handcuffed, with 2 police cars and 4 policemen in attendance. This was in middle of a nice Sunday afternoon. Everyday I witnessed similar situations. I must stress, I saw this Everyday !!??

My brother who still lives there, told me thats basically common place now, and get’s even worse with the shootings and violence.

Albuq. is half the size and population of the S.F. Valley, and for it’s relative size, has become a very violent place with police that shoot first and ask questions later. To repeat myself from my last post, it was great seeing old friends that I grew up with, and of course the Mexican food is still off the charts Awesome. But unfortunately, it is not the same Albuq. where I grew up.

This has to be one of the most ignorant views of ABQ I have ever heard. This writer is using the Breaking Bad series and the stereotypes that come along with a television show, that mind you is FAKE and written by someone who knows nothing of the culture of our area, to try to find a way to get his shabby work printed While it is true that ABQ struggles with it's share of problems which are common to most urban area in the US he fails to point out the beautiful side of our city. ABQ has a vibrant culture, a progressive art & music scene, some of the best food on the planet, people who are beautiful inside and out, an affordable cost of living, sunrises and sunsets that rival anywhere, majestic mountains, and for me personally some of the most loving & caring individuals I have met. I am well traveled and can say that yes, our town can get reckless but mind you that the majority of the time it's for good reason. I agree that people from ABQ aren't the type that will tolerate being pushed around & stepped on because we are a proud people. The diversity of our culture is something unique to the area and most don't understand it and never will. It is not a place where the weak survive. Just because the writer of this piece seems like he couldn't hack it doesn't mean that the rest of this nation should hear his jaded view of this oasis and believe it's anywhere near reality. As for me I'm from ABQ and I love this place and frankly wouldn't want to call anyplace else my home. To the people of ABQ and the whole state of New Mexico I salute you and have nothing but the deepest love and admiration for your perseverance. If more people had your fortitude and strength this world would be better off.

@TooZany Sadly I live across the street from the real breaking bad, it sucks as a native of ABQ. I am now looking for a way out of ABQ, it is living up to the breaking bad stereotype that we are now well known for:(

I'm not sure where this woman grew up, but it certainly wasn't the
Albuquerque I grew up in! At 33 years old, I have NEVER used or even
tried a single drug. In my public high school drugs where available, like
I would expect in any American high school. When offered a simple
"no" was always sufficient. No one ever asked me why I chose
not to partake. The picture she paints makes it sound as if anyone who
comes here would be lucky to get by, much less survive. I made it thought
high school and I worked hard because that is what my parents expected of
me. I worked hard because I knew that was the only way I could ever
afford to go to college.

Someone stated that the author when to a private school here in
Albuquerque. I'm honestly not surprised by that. Most folks who can
afford to attend private school live a much different life than the rest of the
population. It sounds to me like the expectations were different for
her. If I went out and got "wasted" frankly, my parents would
have disowned me!

Like most cities Albuquerque has its problems, I won't deny it. But I dare you to find a city that doesn't. Albuquerque is a wonderful and unique place. Born and raised here I have no intention
of ever leaving. I love the easy access to nature. I love the
amazing, friendly people. My suggestion, ignore this horribly skewed
interpretation of the city and stop by for a visit. If you hate it, some
people do, you never have to come back. If you love it, like so many of
us do, stay for a while. Albuquerque welcomes you!

If this TV show is the epitome of what Albuquerque is supposed to be like - licensed high school teachers dealing Meth - then that explains why people here seem to assume that if you're a licensed teacher (from ANOTHER STATE which DOES have standards like New York, Massachusetts or Connecticut) that you "must" be into all sorts of criminal dealings and must have a criminal record - I've lost count of all the times people ask if I have a criminal record AFTER I tell them I have a teaching license, as if they don't know that OTHER STATES check this before issuing the darn thing and if we did things like drugs or have sex with our underage students we'd lose our license to teach. I mean, fortunately for me, Gallup doesn't have the attitude of the rest of the state in these regards but still. I can't go to the state's largest city even to so much as shop without encountering this - unless I live my life in complete silence, never talking to or interacting with anyone in any way, shape or form while in Albuquerque, Santa Fe, Espanola, Las Vegas, Taos, Socorro, and of course the rest of the state. Or maybe I should rephrase that to just simply state "outside the Gallup metropolitan area." I'm glad Gallup has its own reputation and doesn't get dragged down into Albuquerque's.

So what it is important to note that the author left out, we do these things and survive and even thrive...going on to succeed as she has attending Tufts. At some point we break through and find the good. There are many in this city who've escaped the mundane.

@Arbust91 you obviously don't represent the norm. also you moved there, you weren't born there. you didn't grow up there. Your ancestors didn't spill their blood on this land when it was invaded by Spaniards and then by US troops from Texas so you obviously aren't going to be affected by the dark depressing history that has haunted the hispanic and indian communities. I'm tire of people from out of state coming and thinking they know anything about what its like to actually be from Albuquerque. The officers at Kirkland are not from Albuquerque, and the people from the Sandia National Labs are not from Albuquerque.They came to Albuquerque bringing their blissful ignorance with them.

@Arbust91 In case you overlooked it, the departure rate from the state far exceeded the incoming rate last year. This further confirms the legitimate fear factor that is prevalent around town. If you have not been the victim of a crime or auto accident, then unfortunately the odds are you will be.

It makes no difference what neighborhood you may be living in at the moment, the crime occurs in all parts of town. Granted, the south sides of town are the worst, but it happens everywhere around here, and it is just getting worse by the day.

I relocated here because I am retired from the Army and it was dubbed a military friendly state, but what I was not told involves the rampant crime, aggressive drivers that regularly appear to be competing in a texting contest, and a handful of cops that have an arrogant mindset. I plan to join the caravan of departures in the near future and take my doctoral training with me.

@Arbust91 You're lucky. MOST of Albuquerque is uneducated, low-class trash, apparently. Even right next to UNM. If there are parts of Albuquerque a single female can live in and not be around all these drugs, alcohol, and crime, then I have yet to find it and I've tried now on three different occasions over the past three years. I give up. Gallup is where Teach For America sends teachers FOR A REASON. Math teachers who come from other areas to teach in APS have gotten multiple death threats from their students - and APS sides with the students and fires the teacher. I kid you not. That teacher is now working at UNM in the bookstore. What a waste of so-called "needed" Math teachers.

Albuquerque, is in my opinion one of the most pleasant cities in America. To view it solely through the prism of a work of fiction that glorifies its most debased vices is a rather cruel act of stereotyping that will distort your view of any city. Albuquerque, on whole, has a remarkably rich culture that ebbs through its people, food, and aesthetics. It has an abundance of outdoor spaces and natural attractions that encourage a healthier lifestyle. It is a big city with a small town feel. I never watched Breaking Bad because I find its glorification of illicit drug culture unacceptable. The fact that a major news journal uses its perverse story line to stereotype a city is ... well ... in line with the rather poor quality of media that we get nowadays.

I lived in ABQ for three years through my Ph.D. coursework....as someone who is not from Albuquerque I think her depiction is pretty accurate in some respects - but way off in others. Albuquerque is a struggling city that is plagued by mediocrity, no doubt about it. However, she is largely missing the rich culture that ABQ has to offer. Having lived in 11 different states she is missing what ABQ does have to offer that is so unique - the culture! The art, the history, the people....so many great things about ABQ that are not even touched on. As always there are two sides to the story. Lastly, to the people living there who don't see the 'roughness' of the culture. Walk through Nob Hill or Downtown in the evening - with your eyes open, not closed.

Hmm, I lived in the Burque during high-school, which if the author is correct with her description of the 505, I should have barely survived. This is a very bleak picture to paint of a very cool city, but the worst part is the fact that this can be the description of almost any city with any size. Hell, Being from Southern California, Having lived in Dallas TX, Phoenix, AZ and other places, I find Albuquerque to be tame in comparison (BY FAR). This piece strikes me as something written by a person who is trying to capitalize on the "cool" factor that breaking bad has brought to the city in the hopes of impressing readers, friends, or anyone willing to give it a try. There were drugs at parties, sex and even some arrests in high school, but then again, there was a heroin bust at my nephews prestigious school in Dallas, so I again am missing the shock & awe the writer is trying to extract. Anywho, I will be back in the state for the Balloon fiesta, where my biggest problem will be to decide on Red, green or both.

I have lived in Albuquerque since 1985 raised my daughter here and I have never seen the type of life that this girl is portraying. With that being said Albuquerque much like any other large city has its share of crime and violence. Now this girl who wrote this article must of seen a lot as she was raised in the South Valley an area of town I stay clear from as that is the Ghetto so to speak! To me Albuquerque is amazing and I am glad to live here! Breaking Bad could have filmed in any part of the country and would have had the same outcome. I'm glad that it was filmed here. Just so you all no it was a Fictional Series!

I wish she wouldn't tell people she is from here (Albuquerque) I really dont want people to think this is the type of person that Our wonderful city has produced! If you really want to know about Albuquerque come visit. Personally I love this place & it does have its problems but so does everywhare you go, Please dont let the paid opinion of one motavated writer discourage you from visiting our great city!

@KevinNelson fyi she originally wrote her article for Zocalo Public Square, which Time later picked up on. Time did nothing to influence her opinion of where she grew up and the experiences that she encountered

Way off. I don't know what nasty middle school you went to, but I never once encountered any drugs at the two that I attended (John Adams and Madison). Do you feel better now that you totally trashed a city you clearly know nothing about?

She has no clue! I doubt she grew up in Albuquerque because there is hardly any truth in her piece. What's even more astonishing is that her piece of crap work is getting all this attention. There seems to be some jealousy about Albuquerque and New Mexico being in the film industry. It could be because Albuquerque and New Mexico have a beauty that is not easily matched.

Every once in a while there will be a story that puts down Albuquerque and/or New Mexico that gets national attention. The media runs with it, it's too bad.

Apparently she feels the need to build herself up by putting others down. Small minds and the uniformed show their ignorance.

WOW TIME...do you feel better about yourself making Albuquerque sound so Horrific! Dig around in your own back yard I bet you find the same stuff. ATTN. TIME READERS: Albuquerque, NM is like any city...yes there is some drugs and some crime but for the most part this is a FUN culturally rich society of people who will wave smile and help you find where you are headed, like every place there are some low life people. We welcome your visit and hope you will disregard this article making our city sound like a cesspool. SHAME ON YOU TIME MAG. we are a very struggling poor state and we need people to visit here and we welcome them with kindness and open arms!

The problem with Burque is apathy, resentment and fear. Take for example the death scene of a civil rights lawyer that has remained in the local and national media for almost 3 years now. The scene was trashed by our police department and the state attorney general called them out on it. No response from the citizens of Burque. The petition is here: http://petitions.moveon.org/sign/justice-for-mary-han-1

If we don't learn from the past, we will keep repeating it. The corruption in this city has to be stopped and the only ones with the power to do that are its citizens. Can it be that we care more about a fictional character than a person?

I grew up in ABQ too - lived there a lot longer than 10 years - and lived in other parts of the sate as well. I also agree that the author touches on many truths about the city (though don't wholly agree with all of them) and that people who think she is trashing our city are missing the point. Like the characters in Breaking Bad, Albuquerque is complicated and so is our relationship with it. Those of us who grew up there - whether we've stayed or gone on to do other things - understand that complexity and (I think) are generally OK with it. Whether that is good or bad, I don't know...

This is a ridiculous portrayal of our city. Clearly you are one of the low achievers who only cares about things like "loosing football team"- I've lived in Albuquerque for 10 years and no one has ever offered me, much less pressured me, to take drugs. (Although I've faced that issue in LA and Denver.) It is a place with a vibrant cultural and arts scene. What other American city its size could boast the number of dance studios Albuquerque has or our high number of public murals? If you visit the data from the last census you will see we are one of the most well-integrated, ethnically diverse cities in America. We have hiking, hot air ballooning, good restaurants, an amazing Argentine Tango Festival, and we are the FLAMENCO CAPITAL OF THE USA! Not to mention a thriving independent business community.

''That’s how hungry we are for acknowledgement'' You seem to think Albuquerque is concerned with what the world thinks of it. Albuquerque celebrated it's tricentennial 7 years ago, it doesn't need a ''redeemer''.